Sinnott setback for Pies

By
GREG BEST

CAMPERDOWN will promote its emerging young players, with veteran Leah Sinnott sidelined for an unspecified period.

CAMPERDOWN will promote its emerging young players, with veteran Leah Sinnott sidelined for an unspecified period.

Coach Tracey Baker said yesterday Sinnott would miss at least the next two matches before the interleague bye because of a calf injury.

But she feared Sinnott might be out for up to six weeks.

Sinnott, a versatile player renowned for her tenacity, suffered the injury in the Anzac Day A1 match against Cobden as she attempted to press claims for an A grade call-up. Sinnott missed much of the pre-season with a back complaint and was attempting to bolster her court time before a top-grade return.

But Baker said her long-time teammate needed to overcome the calf issue which was a three-to-four-week injury.

Sinnott’s experience and strong body will be missed by the Magpies when they face Portland in a crunch game for both sides at Hanlon Park on Saturday.

Portland, with one win, one draw and two losses from its four games, sits just two points behind the fifth-placed Magpies (2-2). But with Portland chasing its first win since round one, Camperdown is bracing for a tough contest.

The Magpies should regain defender Emily Stephens, who was unavailable in the side’s 37-goal loss to Koroit. Baker said teenagers Amy Pemberton, who is used to a mid-court role, moved into defence last Saturday while another youngster Olivia Hickey also started as goal shooter.